Vitamin D – What You Need to Know As Winter Approaches

By Editor

Sunshine is a main source of vitamin D and as winter approaches your vitamin D level is likely to be lower. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that comes from dietary supplements, foods such as fortified milk and cereal, certain kinds of fish, and exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D is important for bone health, and some research suggests that it may also reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. In recent years some clinical studies have shown that higher plasma levels of vitamin D are associated with improved survival in colorectal cancer patients. 1,2

Why Is Vitamin D Important?

The main function of vitamin D is to regulate calcium balance in your body. Vitamin D regulates how well calcium is absorbed from the intestine. With adequate vitamin D, you absorb about 35% of the calcium that you take in from foods, drinks, and supplements. If your vitamin D level is low, the efficiency of calcium absorption drops to 10 to 15 percent. When not enough calcium is consumed, bone releases calcium to keep everything running and this can result in the gradual development of osteoporosis.

Benefits beyond Bone Health

I addition to its role in maintain bone health recent research has suggested that vitamin D has other benefits, including reduced the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and infectious respiratory diseases. Most of these findings were based on observational studies, however one recent clinical trial suggest higher doses of vitamin D can delay the recurrence of colon cancer and other trials are under way to further investigate the effects of vitamin D on cancer and heart disease.2

How Much Vitamin D Do You Need?

How much vitamin D you need is widely debated with different groups providing different recommendations. In light of growing evidence of widespread vitamin D deficiency, the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has released a new position statement with increased vitamin D recommendations for older men and women. The statement was published in Osteoporosis International.[1]

Based on a growing body of evidence, the IOF has made the following recommendations:

The estimated average vitamin D requirement for older adults to reach appropriate blood levels of the nutrient is 800 to 1,000 international units (IU) per day.

Individuals who are obese, have osteoporosis, have limited sun exposure, or suffer from malabsorption may need to increase their intake to 2,000 IU/day.

High-risk individuals are encouraged to undergo testing to measure blood levels of vitamin D and then supplement accordingly.

Because there is such a widespread deficiency of vitamin D, the IOF hopes that the new recommendations will help to prevent falls and fractures in the older population.

People who have questions about the level of vitamin D that’s right for them are advised to talk with their physician.

Food Sources of Vitamin D

While you might assume that food would be the ideal source of vitamin D, the reality is that few foods naturally contain vitamin D. The main natural food sources of vitamin D are oily fish, like salmon, mackerel, and sardines. Egg yolks contain only small amounts of vitamin D. In the United States, all milk is fortified with vitamin D. An 8-ounce glass of milk contains 100 IU. Other fortified foods include cereals and some brands of orange juice and yogurt.

Can You Take Too Much Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in fat. Vitamin D taken at recommended doses is generally not of a concern. Classic toxicity with high blood levels of calcium and kidney and liver damage occurs with blood levels in the 200 to 400 ng/mL range as a result of high vitamin D intake. In general, daily intake up to 10,000 IU is thought to be safe. You should consult your healthcare provider to individualize the right dose for you.

Should You Be Screened for Vitamin D?

Most organizations do not recommend universal screening for assessing vitamin D blood levels. The US Preventive Services Task Force concluded this year that the benefits as well as any potential harm from vitamin D screening and early interventions cannot be determined. Individuals at high risk of low vitamin D, however, such as those with obesity, osteoporosis, celiac disease, or Crohn’s disease, are advised to have vitamin D levels checked. Winter and early spring, when sun exposure is lowest, is the best time of year to check. The best indicator of vitamin D levels is the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), which is determined by sun exposure and vitamin D intake.

People who have questions about the level of vitamin D that’s right for them are advised to talk with their physician.

The information contained above is general in nature and is not intended as a guide to self-medication by consumers or meant to substitute for advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. The reader is advised to consult with a physician or other medical professional and to check product information (including packaging inserts) for changes and new information regarding dosage, precautions, and contra indication before administering any drug, herb, supplement, compound, therapy or treatment discussed herein. Neither the editors nor the publisher accepts any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or consequences from the use or misuse of the information contained herein.